I Have Had Enough of the Auto Business

[asphaltgambler]

Flat rate (piece) work is great when all the stars and planets align, but when the customers don't buy or come in, to what end is the shop responsible? I can tell you in the Washington area the only gaurantee is no gaurantee even for very good / great techs

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Flat rate (piece) work is great when all the stars and planets align, but when the customers don't buy or come in, to what end is the shop responsible? I can tell you in the Washington area the only gaurantee is no gaurantee even for very good / great techs

Great technicians are a shop's strongest asset. Hard to imagine not treating them right. Those shops will eventually feel it.

[kach22i]

I'm working on my own sideways move.

Good luck.

[fastfredracing]

I completely understand where you are coming from. I am almost 41, and have been in the business for over 20 years. I still like to spin a wrench, but day to day is becoming drudgery. I can in no way imagine doing this for the next 20 years. I have been working real hard for the last 4 years now to try to open up other doors for myself. Have been really hustling on the rental house business. I have this whole plan set into action for myself, and hope not to be a full time wrench within the next 5 years. I do plan on putting up a nice garage at my home and doing quite a bit of side jobbing ( it is in my blood, and no way I could walk away altogether)
I have always thought that we have one of the most technically challenging, physically hard jobs that require quite a large skill set, and also have to invest a small fortune in tools/equipment/training, and yet, we make half what a good/busy electrician or plumber does as far as blue collar jobs go.
I still like my job but I feel burn out is imminent eventually .
Good luck with your future ventures.

[Rick V]

I didn't read the entire thread but after having a wrench in my hand most of my life and it being my career for the last 2 decades I also am getting out. When I am so burnt out that I would rather not drive my coupe because the valve adjustment is way beyond due, it is bad. I hate cars in general.

[Zeke]

What makes the consultant say homeland security is such a growth business? Did you check out his sources? I know the governments in this country large and local would like to spend on HS, but around here they are relying on the Coast Guard, FBI, ect, to execute.

[mattdavis11]

I hope the transition goes smoothly. I put down my wrenches after about 3 years, and pretty much all I did was a/c work. Had a business doing mobile a/c jobs in DFW for awhile, but now I sell a/c parts to shops, and provide tech support. We sell radiators too, so in the winter it's fun to land another body shop during collision season. We had about 25% total growth last year, and went from nearly 50K to 375K in a/c sales. I have a boss now, but pretty much do what I want. I'm not required to go to the office, but I do, everyday.

At 31, I traded in lobbying the state legislature to go back to college, turned a few wrenches, and here I am now. I don't much miss what I was doing 4 years ago, but I keep in tune somewhat.

If you're not mad at cars, a/c might be a refreshing side of the business that you'd enjoy, if only as a side job. There's good money in it. I've become pretty passionate about it, and every now and then I dust off the gauges to knock one out.

I wish you well.

[rattlsnak]

Yup, been there also. I was a wrench ( ASE Master Tech ) for almost exacly 20 years before I got out. My revelation was an injury. One day, I broke my leg badly, couldnt work, and almost lost everything. When I came back to work 5 months later, I really started taking a look around and didnt like what I saw. Things I realized in those few months were things like, this is an industry where the better you are, the less you make, (because you get all the problem cars that nobody else can fix, while they get all the gravy service work) the older you are, the less you make, ( cant keep up physically anymore) as the cars keep getting better, the less you make, all while working harder. People who arent in the business can in no way understand the true nature of flat rate. I took me @ 4-5 years to get all my ratings and flight time and do something ive always wanted to do, which is fly commercially. Then, right after I got hired, Sept. 11th, happens and the aviation indusrty takes a major nosedive, but that is another story..

Long story short, I am SO glad I made the switch and got out. I am in contact with many friends still in it, and they keep saying its just getting worse every year. I am fortunate to "work" at a local body/speed shop and still get to spin wrenches when I want, and still get to be involved in some cool projects, but now its more of a hobby which brings enjoyment..

So now, I go to work and fly around and then come home and get to "play" with cars. Kinda have the best of both worlds.

[Evans, Marv]

I met a guy (bought some P-parts from him) who did something interesting, but I guess not everyone can make it work. He was a mechanic & get fed up with the wrenching part of it. What he did was become a "forensic mechanic." That is, he evaluated and analyzed mechanical problems for insurance companies and testified for and advised attorneys on those kinfd of things. He said he made a good living doing it & enjoyed it too.

[stealthn]

The NSA and FBI are hiring right now....

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by kaisen

.. good technicians were making $80-100K in a franchised dealership ...

did those guys read the PARF thread on Putting Some $$ Away?

[Gretch]

Buddy of mine owns and operates an indy P car shop........... he and his "few" employees have more work than they can handle, AND very happy, loyal customers.

Why? you ask?

Because he is fair, honest, reliable, trustworthy and they are DAMN good mechanics. Sometimes simple fundamental honerable values and old fashion hard work, actually do pay off.

Seeme to me, there is a class of beemer owner who would appreciate such a set of business services.

I know that when the warranty is over on my cars.......... they never see the inside of a stealership again.

It takes substantial effort, time and sacrifice to build up a customer following. Once you have it, and you treat them fair, no power on earth will pull them away from you.

[asphaltgambler]

Good replies all - thanks for the encouragement!! - In the Washington/DC Metro area there is a lot of demand for Electronic Security Techs IF you have the right qualifications. I did much research to narrow down objectively, my skill set to figure where and what area I would fit. Then I googled pay scales and requirements for each until I narrowed the field.

I have a background in IT. In the late nineties there was a gold rush in IT in the Metro area. I enrolled in boot camp style training schools in basic computing and networking, then MCSE (Win NT) I achieved A+ / N+ training and certs as well as MS Office suite ( basic know - how) I secured a position with a large attorneys office in 1999. I started as helpdesk and quickly moved up to network admin and interim director. The IT staff maintained there own network, telephony, IDS (card reader) and CCTV. I was exposed to an immense amount of technology in one place then. I moved up quickly because I tried and worked harder than anyone else to succeed. Then after 9/11 the company was sold and The parent company replaced me - the reason? I my replacement was working for $10K less than I was making at that time,

So in '02 I went back into the auto business but this time soley as a Euro tech - now here we are

[Laneco]

Right now, the auto industry is expanding wildly into alternate fuels, hybrid and full electric. The problem is that these technologies will stymie the typical repair person out there.

What is needed are people who can repair THOSE cars and truly auto-knowlegeable people to help those who develop them. The developers are big brain people who do not always get the mechanics behind their dreams. They are thinking in the sky, but vehicles needed a well-grounded thought process to be successful. They need a wrench to make the big-brain ideas really work.

You are only 51. Maybe you should take what you know and jump to the next level with it (hybrid/electric/alternate fuel). You can still dream big and maybe even influence the course of automotive history.

Just an idea, my friend.

angela

[rattlsnak]

Good thought, but thats not going to change the flat rate way of business. Problem is, good techs have made great pay in the past and now they see their income going down every year. If the owners/dealers were to pay by way of some sort of salary, (this had been tried at various places over the years) they would not be happy with the pay. Example is CarMax. Techs who were making 80-90K a few years ago were approached by CarMax to go onto a salary program, but at @ $35-45K. So, it's a double edge sword for the good tech but great for not so good tech. But it all circles back to the good tech working harder and watching their income going down every year.

[Wilhelm]

"Most business owners are taking the advantage of the downturn with their employees. As in less pay, reduced per job pay, increased liability to total loss on the tech, increased hrs on the clock, reduced or no benefits. All becuase they can."

I agree . Seems like businesses everywhere are taking advantage of this recession to squeeze employees to the limit.... and beyond. Even though the economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, businesses will not be hiring any time in the near future. They will continue to push their current employees to work harder, produce more. All the while reducing benefits, trying to break unions, etc. Don't believe for a moment the propaganda we hear about "Small businesses being job creators" .

The business community sees a real advantage to this recession...they can use it as an excuse to reduce staffing and squeeze the remaining work force.

[Gretch]

do you see boogiemen around EVERY corner?

[Reg]

The business community sees a real advantage to this recession...they can use it as an excuse to reduce staffing and squeeze the remaining work force.

Spoken from an employee to be sure. Ask 20 business owners abount the advantages to a recession. Bottom line is if revenue is dropping and bad debts go up your salary is not going to stay the same. These guys are just trying to hang on any way they can.

[asphaltgambler]

Originally Posted by Gretch

do you see boogiemen around EVERY corner?

Explain........please

[Joeaksa]

Good luck!

I did a career change at age 28 and have never looked back. Still, aviation is wonderful but goes up and down and sure could use some stability these days and may start branching off into what else... IT!

Joe A

PS thanks for the second mount! Arrived fine!